Strategic Plan Maps

Simplified regional maps showing the changes under the Strategic Plan as announced in October 2010 can be viewed below.

The regional maps provide a visual means of seeing the changes announced under the Strategic Plan. There are maps for each region and detail maps for the Minneapolis and Saint Paul metro areas.

A list of parishes and their status as of October 2011 can be found on the Parish Status page.

Definitions

Parish Merger

Parish merger definition: two or more parish communities merge into one community with one pastor; in each merging relationship there is one parish designated as a receiving parish; the assets and liabilities of a merging parish will be incorporated into the receiving parish (this means that the receiving parish will acquire the church building of any merging parish); Masses will continue to be celebrated at the church building of the merging parish until a decision which contradicts such use is made by the parish pastoral and finance councils of the receiving parish community, in consultation with the Archbishop and the Presbyteral Council; parish mergers are subject to appeal (please see Appendix A (pdf)); mergers will proceed as the capacity to handle them effectively and pastorally allows.

Parish Cluster

Parish cluster definition: two or more parishes that share a pastor; clustered parishes may also share some staff and programming; cluster arrangements will not go into effect before June 1, 2011; questions or concerns about cluster arrangements will be addressed at open meetings in each affected parish; parishes in a cluster arrangement retain their parish status and basic organizational structure; clustering does not necessarily lead to merger of parishes.

Identified for Structural Collaboration

Identified for structured collaboration definition: two or more parishes each with their own pastor that are specifically identified to work in collaboration, i.e. sharing resources, cooperating on programming, etc.; while all parishes are called into greater collaboration under the Strategic Plan, the parishes in this category are specifically asked to engage in particular cooperation and communication with neighboring parishes; many of these sites may eventually move toward a cluster.

Designation as an Oratory

Designation as oratory definition: an oratory is a worship site established for a particular community or group of the faithful; often, oratories are simply another worship site within a parish; there are some limitations as to what liturgical celebrations can take place in an oratory, for example: all communities are encouraged to participate in Mass on Sundays at the parish church; funerals are only permitted in an oratory with a dispensation from the diocesan bishop; there must be a just cause for a baptism to take place outside of the parish church.